Arrived in Budapest, Hungary this morning.
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| During breakfast we watched a group of paddleboarders paddle against the current of the Danube River |
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| Up on Gellert Hill is Szabadság szobor/Liberty Statue (1947, by Zsigmond Kisfaludi Stróbl to commemorate the Soviet liberation of Hungary in World War II) now bears a new inscription: to the memory of all those who sacrificed their lives for the independence, freedom, and prosperity of Hungary |
We boarded our motorcoach for the rescheduled included shore excursion to Kalocsa & Puszta, which was now a 120-km/74.5-mile trip instead of just a 15.5-km/9.6-mile jaunt.
Bakodpuszta is a breeding farm out on the puszta/prairie or steppe to maintain the Magyar cultural heritage.
You could also add onion rings to the "open-faced sandwich."
Video of "playing dead with whip cracking":
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| Budapest's new Ludwig Múzeum/Ludwig Museum (est 1976) is located in Müpa Budapest (2002-2005, by Zoboki, Demeter és Társaik Építésziroda); the Ludwig Museum features contemporary art |
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| Arriving at Bakodpuszta Equestrian Center in Dunapataj, Hungary, we were escorted by a whip-cracking csikós/Hungarian cowboy (KSS) |
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| We are serenaded by a man playing a Tárogató, a woodwind instrument that looks like a clarinet (KSS) |
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| Three csikós/Hungarian cowboys in their extremely baggy pants, shirts with ballooning sleeves, and a black vest |
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| We were served a "break-fast" of Zsíros Kenyér/ Fatty Bread, spread with rendered lard (traditionally from pork fatback) and sprinkled with paprika, plus a beverage of white or red wine, or apple juice |
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| Our hosts included Csaba Fekete, and I bet that is his wife ... |
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| The performance began by showing off the Magyar Szürke/ Bos taurus var/Hungarian Grey or Steppe Cattle |
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| Originally raised as beasts of burden and for beef, the Hungarian cattle are now kept mainly in national parks |
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| The tips of the horns are capped with golden balls, supposedly to prevent accidental goring (really?!) |
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| Now the real show begins, with four csikós on specifically bred kisbéri félvér/half-bred horses of which the Gidrán line was initially used for military purposes; but wait! Csaba Fekete is on a donkey! |
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| These horses were taught to lie down so that they could hide in tall grass during battle |
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| This csikós is still training his horse to lie down, by physically wrestling him to the ground! |
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| The horse was expected to play dead, despite all the noise of battle (and whip cracking) |
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| The donkey is well-trained, too! |
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| Calvary men could also sleep on their horses |
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| I am not sure of the purpose of this skill |
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| These horses could sit like dogs, and still not flinch at the whip |
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| Joyce "volunteered" to be whipped; actually the whip is gently "thrown" to wrap around its quarry |
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| One of the horsemanship games is to race around the field carrying a mug of Pálinka/Hungarian fruit brandy (although they claimed it was apple juice today); Csaba is cheating by carrying his mug on a tray where he can pour the spillage back into his mug to be the winner of the least-spilled contest |
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| After the contest - bottoms up! |
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| Csaba (on his donkey) also won the game where he chased whatever rider happened to have grabbed a girl's scarf from another's shoulder, and grabbed it for himself, winning the prize of a kiss from the "girl" |
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| A peasant cart is pulled by a mis-matched trio of horses; the horse on the right is attached to and pulls the rear wheels |
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| The nobleman's carriage is pulled by a matching set of horses built for speed, but requires someone in the rear to balance the carriage around corners at high speed |
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| Finally, the Ten-in-hand, with one csikós controlling ten horses; the pair of horses upon which he stands may have Lipizzaner blood |
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| Now it was time for we guests to sample Pálinka/Hungarian fruit brandy and savory Sajtos pogácsa/cheese biscuits |
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| In the barn are these informal stalls |
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| And these are the stud stalls for the feistier stallions |
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| Oves aries var/Racka Sheep are another ancient breed, known for their unusual spiraling horns |
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| Sus scrofa domesticus var/Mangalica Piglets, another Hungarian ancient breed |
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| Trying to see the curly hair of the Mangalica pig |
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| Umm, if this is the mother, maybe they are not Mangalicas |
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| Keeping the Ten-in-hand organized |
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| The "special" shoes used by the Ten-in-hand ride |
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| One of the csikós enters the barn (KSS) |
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| There are a lot of horses on this farm! |
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| Oh! and now for a horse-drawn carriage ride |
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| Passing the other group of Viking guests |
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| A shepherd's hut and a well sweep for the water well (hand over hand you lower the bucket on a rope into the well and when the bucket is filled, allow the weight of the wooden pole to raise the bucket out of the well |
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| Shelter for animals (most likely sheep) out on the prairie |
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| Some sunflower fields (sunflowers usually grown for the oil) and mostly hay fields, with a mountain of hay bales |
Next: Kalocsa.
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